8279

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8279
• Author: Brown and Caldwell.
• Title: Phase 1 Coordinated Facilities Water Availability Study for the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River.
• USFW Year: 2000.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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The following discussion of the sources and amounts of water presently available for recovery of
the endangered fishes under the Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Action Plan
(RIPRAP) is presented in order to indicate the relationship of the 20,000 acre-feet to the other
components of the Recovery Program.
1.2.1 Late Summer and Fall Base Flow Period Augmentation
The RIPRAP will provide for late summer and fall base flow period augmentation from a
number of sources (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, April 1, 1999).
• 581 cfs instream flow right decreed to the CWCB (September 2, 1997 decree date) for the
15-Mile Ruch during July, August and September. This decree protects the Orchard
Mesa Irrigation District (OMID) hydraulic pump return flows and the Grand Valley
Power Plant return flows from being diverted out of the 15-Mile Reach.
• 300 cfs instream flow right decreed to he CWCB for water accretions occurring to the 15-
Mile Reach during July, August and September. This right provides further protection to
water reaching the 15-Mile Reach from future diversions.

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• 5,000 acre-feet per year of stored water is made available from Ruedi Reservoir by
Reclamation in consultation with the Service and the CWCB when needed by the fish
pursuant to the Ruedi Reservoir Round I Water Sales Biological Opinion.
• An additional 5,000 acre-feet in 4 out of 5 years is made available from Ruedi Reservoir
by Reclamation via modified reservoir operations in consultation with the Service and
CWCB when needed by the fish. Protection of this 5,000 acre-feet and the 5,000 acre-
feet above is accomplished pursuant to the terms of an agreement between Reclamation,
CWCB and the Service which provides for the contract delivery and protection of the
water to and through the 15-Mile Reach.
• An additional 10,825 acre-feet per year from Ruedi Reservoir delivered to the 15-Mile
Reach under the terms of a short and/or long term lease(s) totaling 15 years. This
10,825 acre-feet is contained within the 21,650 acre-feet of unsold regulatory capacity
referred to in the Ruedi Reservoir Round II Water Sales Amended Biological Opinion
(January 6, 1999). When the PBO becomes effective, this 21,650 acre-feet annual
commitment contained in the Ruedi Reservoir Biological Opinion will be replaced by the
long-term lease of 10,825 acre-feet from Ruedi Reservoir and a 10,825 acre-feet
interim/permanent commitment divided equally between other facilities serving east
slope and west slope water users. All of this water is presently used for augmenting
flows during the late summer and early fall periods and not for spring peak augmentation.
Initially, the 10,825 acre-feet, which is the responsibility of the east and west slope water
users to supply, will be provided on an interim basis for a period up to 10 years or until
permanent contracts are signed for delivery as needed by the fish, whichever occurs first.
Colorado's water users will determine which facilities will provide the water and will
execute necessary agreements. Until the permanent source(s) of this water are
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